St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-04-02
CAPTAIN COOK.


Wcoasrfal Career Of the MAJ who Virtually
Msds Geography . New scieacs.
We do not often realize how far the
discovery and settlement of America
were due to the circumstance that this
continent lay directly across the path
from Europe to the East Indies. Had
there been . pass age between North
and South Ameri c a at the Isthmus OF
Panama. even one no larger than NJ. de
Lesseps' proposed ship-canal, much Of
this northern division might have re-
mained unknown for generations
longer. VIII en- Henry Hudson explored
the river whi ch bears his name. he WAS
for . passage into the Pacific
Ocean. Hudson's Strait and HudsOn's
Bay mark similar search farther north.
The rapids Of Lachine on the ST. Law
renee were called the China Rapids by
the French. because that people hoped by
this river to open direct passage to the
East. England was not less active than
her neighbors. and in the last century
her growing interests in the East led to
the most thorough and extended ex-
plorations of our northe rn and western
shores.
The foremost man in accomplishing
this work was Captain James Cook. He
was born at Marion. in the north riding
Of Yorkshire. England, October "a.
1928. As his father was q poor man.
the son was put on board a vessel OF the
navy at an early age, and. under tho
disadvantages Of this position, educated
himself for command. He was on board
the Mercury in Canada during the
French and English war of 1755. In
1868 Cook had 50 far distinguished him
self in mathematics that he was ap-
pointed to observe the transit Of Venus
in 1869. and for this purpose made his
6rst visit 70 the South Sea. ~ the Pacific
was commonly called. The Captaia
doubled Cape Horn in June. 1869. dis
covered the Society Islands. and deter
mined the form and extent of New Zea-
land. In ITO he coastcd along tho
shores Of A Aus>ralia for more than six
hundred leagues, and returned home by
he way Of Cape Good Hope.
Captain Cook made his second voyage
Of discovery IN 1772-l774. He again
circumnav igated the world. and discov-
cred New Caledonia. His third voyage
was begun July IL. 1776. eight days
after our Declaration of Independence.
The leading purpose Of the voyage was
to introduce into the islands under tAs
tropfc Of Capricorn the domestic ami
mails of Europe. After having accom-
plished this, Captain Cook was to turn
to the north and explore the west coast
Of America as far rs 60e north latitude.
From that point he would Try to find
bis way into the Atlantic between Asia
and America. His command consisted
of the Discovery and the Resolution.
and he was accompanied BY astrono-
mers and naturalists. Going BY the
way Of Cape Good Hope. and having
discharged his first duty, Cook turned
toward the north, and on the 18th Of
January, 177s. he discovered the Sand
wich Islands. On the 7th of March he
reached our northwest coast in latitude
"A deg. 50 min. This coast he followed
until he reached latitude 20 deg. A min.
n, more than ten degrees farther than
his instructions required him to 60. As
nothing but ice as to be seen before
him, he returned to the Sandwich L.
lands, and spent the winter there.
The death of Captain Cook. on the
14th Of February, l779. resulted from .
misunderstanding with the natives. On
the day before they had taken boat
belong ing to the Discovery. havingli little
idea Of the rights of property. That
morning Cook went on shore to recover
the boat. By some unauthorized per-
son shot was fired, ane chief was
killed. Immediately the Captain was
set upon, and murdered in retaliation.
We can not easily estimate the i'm
portance Of Cooks discoveries. Before
his day nearly half the surface
Of the globe was unknown. or
knowledge Of it was in much con-
fusion. The improvements which have
since been made originated in his enter
prise and exertions. Geography has
become new science. and reached such
completeness as to leave only some un-
important parts of the globe to be ex-
plored. If ever the ice and the cold will
permit. In conn ection with the last
voyage of Coo k, there is an incident
told which is of interest. As he had
already conducted two expeditions. the
Government felt that it could not claim,
though it greatly desired. his services.
He was consulted on every detail OF
the plans, but was left free to volunteer
his services. il he would. At last it
came to naming the commander Of the
expedition. Cook met with the com
missioners ct the house Of Lord Sand
wich to dine, and to talk over this ap'
pointment. At the table the enthu-
siasm Of the Captain became 20 much
reused by what he heard said of the i'm.
portance and glory Of the und ertaking,
that he started up and exclaimed: 81
will conduct it myselfr' This was just
what the others desired. and had been
working to bring about - XoHths Com
paSion.
An Aggravating Woman.
Husband-We. will have dinner to.